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ericbuscemi's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent non-linear first-person narrative told by Michael -- writing from prison -- about how he grew up to become a safe-cracker, or "boxman." Each puzzle piece of the disjointed tale is interesting enough as a singular vignette, but together they fit together to form a perfect narrative.
The writing is beautiful. There are powerful scenes, and tense scenes, and particularly vivid scenes -- ones I don't think I will ever forget. Michael's talents -- artistic and illegal -- are written in a way that makes them at once magical and believable, and immediately able to be visualized.
It is a complete success as a coming-of-age story, a heist story, a crime story, and a love story. A definite must-read.
The writing is beautiful. There are powerful scenes, and tense scenes, and particularly vivid scenes -- ones I don't think I will ever forget. Michael's talents -- artistic and illegal -- are written in a way that makes them at once magical and believable, and immediately able to be visualized.
It is a complete success as a coming-of-age story, a heist story, a crime story, and a love story. A definite must-read.
sausome's review against another edition
3.0
I like this book so far (halfway through it). It reminds me of the "Odd Thomas" series by Dean Koontz, which I loved. So far I don't get why it's coded as "Suspense/Thriller". Seems like it could be shelved in regular new fiction.
jennchandler's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent story; too much swearing for my taste. F-word used in abundance.
reads4life's review against another edition
4.0
great book with a constantly progressing plot. The endign didn't resolve the storyline to the degree I prefer, but it is a great story and I am planning to read more stories by Steve Hamilton.
hijinx_abound's review against another edition
2.0
Parts of this book were so interesting. The way the author discusses locks and the picking of them was sensual and different. Some of the characters were interesting but it felt very much like a B movie.
jennahazzard's review against another edition
4.0
After a tiny bit of a slow start, I really enjoyed this novel. It was well paced and carried a suspenseful plot.
The main character, Michael, was interesting and amusing. After a few chapters, he'd earned my love, and I was rooting for him.
My only complaint is that I found the alternating story lines a bit hard to keep track of, especially in the end when events and characters started overlapping. However, that could just reflect on me as a reader, and not the writing itself.
The main character, Michael, was interesting and amusing. After a few chapters, he'd earned my love, and I was rooting for him.
My only complaint is that I found the alternating story lines a bit hard to keep track of, especially in the end when events and characters started overlapping. However, that could just reflect on me as a reader, and not the writing itself.
vivirexha's review against another edition
3.0
3.5. Book didn’t feel slow. I feel for the mc and really enjoyed his character and life. Not really about heists but rather how he got into what got him into jail.
readingwithhippos's review against another edition
4.0
This book languished at the bottom of my to-read list for a long time. I feel bad about how it happened. Now that I've read it, I know that it's imaginative and entertaining and I shouldn't have delayed the experience. The problem is, I keep getting tempted by the shinier, newer books at the top of the list. I treat the bottom of my to-read list the way frat guys treat the drunk girls who are left in the bar at last call—I'll take you for a ride, but only because it's too late at night to find something fresh and pretty.
Once I brought the book back to my place and got in between the covers, I realized I'd totally misjudged her. She may have had a faded-makeup, wilting-updo vibe from being trapped in my to-read list since 2012, but that was my fault, not hers. She turned out to be intelligent and absorbing, with a plot that just wouldn't quit.
Narrator Michael hasn't spoken a word since a family tragedy shattered his life when he was a child. He is sent to live with his well-meaning but clueless uncle Lito and spends some time attending a school for the deaf when it becomes clear that his speech isn't returning. Eventually, he is sent to a regular public high school, where he manages to eke out his existence by staying out of people's way—until his special talent for picking locks leads to an arrest for breaking into the house of a rival school's quarterback.
Almost before he knows it, Michael is drawn into a criminal underworld and trained as a “boxman,” a safecracker. He's also fallen in love with an artist named Amelia, but his new high-stakes job keeps getting in the way of their relationship. We know things haven't all gone according to plan for Michael because he's narrating the book from a prison cell, but we don't know how he ended up there. He tells his story out of order because he can't stand to write about the initiating incident, the event that put his whole life on this trajectory—the day his life fell apart when he was eight years old.
Michael is a fascinating character, emotional but deeply guarded. I love the way he describes cracking safes; for him, intuition and touch are more important than technique. Despite his criminal activities and unsavory associates, his feelings for Amelia are pure and resolute. Because he doesn't speak, people are constantly making false assumptions about him. It's a treat to be inside the head of a narrator who is so inscrutable to the other characters.
Bottom line: Don't be a frat guy. Treat all books with the respect they deserve.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
Once I brought the book back to my place and got in between the covers, I realized I'd totally misjudged her. She may have had a faded-makeup, wilting-updo vibe from being trapped in my to-read list since 2012, but that was my fault, not hers. She turned out to be intelligent and absorbing, with a plot that just wouldn't quit.
Narrator Michael hasn't spoken a word since a family tragedy shattered his life when he was a child. He is sent to live with his well-meaning but clueless uncle Lito and spends some time attending a school for the deaf when it becomes clear that his speech isn't returning. Eventually, he is sent to a regular public high school, where he manages to eke out his existence by staying out of people's way—until his special talent for picking locks leads to an arrest for breaking into the house of a rival school's quarterback.
Almost before he knows it, Michael is drawn into a criminal underworld and trained as a “boxman,” a safecracker. He's also fallen in love with an artist named Amelia, but his new high-stakes job keeps getting in the way of their relationship. We know things haven't all gone according to plan for Michael because he's narrating the book from a prison cell, but we don't know how he ended up there. He tells his story out of order because he can't stand to write about the initiating incident, the event that put his whole life on this trajectory—the day his life fell apart when he was eight years old.
Michael is a fascinating character, emotional but deeply guarded. I love the way he describes cracking safes; for him, intuition and touch are more important than technique. Despite his criminal activities and unsavory associates, his feelings for Amelia are pure and resolute. Because he doesn't speak, people are constantly making false assumptions about him. It's a treat to be inside the head of a narrator who is so inscrutable to the other characters.
Bottom line: Don't be a frat guy. Treat all books with the respect they deserve.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
cdeane61's review against another edition
4.0
Good solid read. Well written, well crafted tale, with a slightly unconventional back and forth timeline, that for me seemed to work just fine.
I found the details of the various story lines to be believable - from the trauma suffered at the age of 9 (slowly revealed throughout the story) to the present situation on the wrong side of the law, and how that came about.
I suppose in some ways it could even be considered a coming-of-age story.
Kept me reading, and will be looking up other books by this author.
I found the details of the various story lines to be believable - from the trauma suffered at the age of 9 (slowly revealed throughout the story) to the present situation on the wrong side of the law, and how that came about.
I suppose in some ways it could even be considered a coming-of-age story.
Kept me reading, and will be looking up other books by this author.
spartanjess's review against another edition
4.0
I had this book parked on my bookshelf but I’m glad I pulled it out. The main character in the book, Michael, experienced trauma as a child and hasn’t spoken since that incident occurred. As a mute with an uncanny talent to pick locks and crack safes, Michael becomes invaluable to the wrong people. For me this was a quick and enjoyable read. As a Michigander, I also appreciated that part of the book occurs in the Mitten State.